Biochemistry and Evolution 47 



been still other chemical counterparts of natural selection, so that the 

 production of large-molecular compounds and their organization into 

 a primitive form of living stuff was, in some degree, perhaps a rather 

 less improbable performance than the writing of Shakespeare's son- 

 nets. 



Table 1. Products of irradiation of a mixture of H 2 , CH 4 , and NH 3 (spark 

 discharge) 



* Per cent yield of glycine based on carbon placed in the apparatus as methane. 

 source: Miller (1957). 



Supposing, then, that the period of chemical evolution gave rise to 

 some organized system possessing the potentialities for what may be 

 called "life,^ as we use the word in its everyday connotation, and 

 organic evolution could begin. To our knowledge and understanding 

 of this latter process biochemistry can contribute much; hence the 

 title of this essay, "Biochemistry and Evolution"'-— a challenging title 

 for any biochemist and above all for one who professes an interesl 

 in its comparative aspects. 



Nearly 25 years ago the present author wrote a little book (Bald- 



